FAMILIAR GRAMMAR ON TOEFL

In this time i wanna explain something about toufl (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

As you have heard, usually in toefl you hear just have 7 of 8 grammar of them. In this time i will explain grammar that will be familiar in toefl test.

For the first time you must know carefully the basic of grammar in below:

NORMAL SENTENCE PATTERN IN ENGLISH

Subject (S) + Verb (V) + Complement (C) + Modifier (M)

1. Subject

the subject is the agent of the sentence in the active voice; it is the person or thing that performs or is responsible for the action of the sentence, and usually located before the verb. The subject may be a single noun (ex: Coffee is delicious).

Examples of subjects :

·                      We girls are not going to the movie

·                      The bank closed at two o’clock

2. Verb

The verb follows the subject in a declarative sentence; it generally shows the action of the sentence. The verb may be a single word (ex: John drives too fast).

Examples of verbs :

·                     She will go to Bali next week

·                     He must has gone to the bank

·                     Ani is watching television

3. Complement

A complement completes the verb.  It is similar to the subject. A complement answers the question what? Or whom?.

Examples of complements :

·                     Nick was driving a new car                          (what was Nick driving? -> a new car)

·                     She saw Zac Efron at the movies last night    (whom that she see at the movies? -> Zac Efron)

4. Modifier

A modifier tells the time, place, or manner of the action.

Examples of modifier :

·                     Joe was swimming in the pool

·                     Where was Joe swimming? -> in the pool

·                     We ate dinner at seven o’clock

·                     When did we eat dinner? -> at seven o’clock

Ok, after you begun lesson the basic then we will see what the 7 or 8 grammar already mentioned.

TENSES

1. Simple present tense

This tense is usually not use to indicate present time. However, it is used to indicate present time (now) with the following stative verbs; know, understand, have, believe, hate, need, hear love, appear, see, see, like seem, smell, want, taste, wish, sound, and own. Simple present tense is also used to indicate a regular or habitual action.

Examples :

·                     We want to live now  (stative verb)

·                     Kev usually walks to school everyday  (habitual action)

2. Present Progressive (continuous)

Subject  +  {am; is;  are}  +  [verb + ing]

The  present progressive is used to indicate present time (now) with all but the stative verbs listed previously. It is also used to indicate future time.

Examples :

·                     The secretary is typing the letter now  (present time)

·                     We are flying to Mekkah next month  (future time)

3. Simple Past Tense

The simple past is used for a completed action that happened at one specific time in the past.

Examples :

·                     Jerry went to Spain last year

·                     Mark washed the dishes after dinner

4. Past Progressive (continuous)

Use of Past Progressive

a.. puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past

    Example: He was playing football.

b. two actions happening at the same time (in the past)

    Example: While she was preparing dinner, he was washing the dishes.

c. action going on at a certain time in the past

    Example: When I was having breakfast, the phone suddenly rang

5. Present Perfect

Subject  +  [has/have]  +  [verb in past participle] …

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples :

·                     I have seen that movie twenty times.

·                     We have already written our reports

·                     Maria hasn’t called her parents yet

6. Present Perfect Progressive (continuous)

Subject  +  [has/have]  +  been  +  [verb+ing]

Use of Present Perfect Progressive

a. puts emphasis on the duration or course of an action (not the result)

    Example: She has been writing for two hours.

b. action that recently stopped or is still going on

    Example: I have been living here since 2001.

c. finished action that influenced the present

    Example: I have been working all afternoon.

7. Past Perfect

Subject  +  had  +  [verb in past participle]…

           

Examples :

·                     You had studied English before you moved to New York.

·                     John went home after he had gone to the store

8. Past Perfect Progressive (continuous)

Subject  + had  + been  +  [verb+ing]…

Examples :

Nate had been working at the university forforty-five years before he retired